Multi-Faceted Fitness

As you probably know, I’m a list maker. I love setting out my goals and crossing them off as I accomplish each one – or moving them to the next list; that’s okay too.

Fabulous fitness has many facets. (How’s that for alliteration?)

So, what can I do to be fit?

Physical Fitness

Exercise

According to some experts, being active for an hour a day goes a long way to keeping fit. If I would just spend half an hour five times per week on the treadmill and 45-60 minutes three to four times per week doing resistance training, I’d be well on the way.

Healthy Eating

For me, eating better would be as simple as eating more fruits and veggies and less processed food and snacks. That would be a great start.

Hydration

I drink water when I have it beside me. When I don’t, I can go for hours without drinking anything.

Sleep

I haven’t gotten into the habit of going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time every morning. I know, however, this can have tremendous benefits: physical, emotional, and intellectual.

Emotional Fitness

The music I listen to, the TV shows and movies I watch, and the books I read can all effect my emotions. Hollywood knows they can manipulate our emotions with a stirring sound track and exceptional acting.

I like a wide variety of entertainment: from action/adventure to a sappy chick flick, from a powerful drama to a CG movie produced for kids. I also like many genres of books. The same is true regarding my musical tastes.

If I’m in a negative frame of mind, however, it will do me no good to listen to a sad song while watching or reading a tear-jerker. It isn’t a matter of denying my feelings, but intensifying those that bring me down isn’t going to do me – or anyone around me – any good.

As a Christian, I believe it’s important to read and listen to those things that will reinforce scriptural truth, even if my feelings don’t coincide with the input.

Spiritual Fitness

And as a Christian, there are some things I believe are essential to my spiritual fitness.

The Scriptures

In far too many ways, I have backtracked in this area. I used to wake up in the night and read lengthy passages of Scripture. (At that point, my hubby was getting up at 2:30 and delivering 250-300 newspapers before catching a nap and heading off to his regular job. I would often be awake for a portion of the time he was gone.)

Sadly, those times have been replaced by sleep and have not been rescheduled. I’ve allowed busyness and preoccupation with other things to fill my time. As much as I don’t like to admit it, there are days I don’t open God’s Word. I know the importance of not only reading it but studying it as well.

Prayer

Although I’ve said it countless times before, there is no better way to express myself than to say, “I’m all about relationships.”

My relationship with God is no different. In fact, it is the #1 relationship in my life.

How do I get to know another person? I don’t just read about them, though what I read may be 100 percent true. No, I have to spend time with that person, talking to him and listening to his response. While I find God’s portion of the conversation in the Bible, the other portion, talking to Him, is vital. Prayer attunes my spiritual ears to “hear” the truth of His Word. It reminds me that I am interacting with One who is alive, not just an historic or mythical being.

In the English Standard Version, Matthew 7:7 reads, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” God is my heavenly Father. Like a loving earthly father, He loves to provide my needs and many of my wants. And like a wise earthly father, He knows it’s sometimes best to say no to my requests.

Not only do I ask on behalf of myself; I also ask on behalf of others and rejoice to see Him work in their lives.

It isn’t all about asking. Sometimes, it’s simply rejoicing in His presence, thanking Him for what He has done, and praising Him for who He is.

Fellowship

Christians are referred to as a family. While the word implies that we spend time together, we are also referred to as a body. A body must work together if it ever wants to accomplish anything. We are directed to gather together in Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together . . .”

Some say they can believe without going to church. Others say the church is full of hypocrites. While there is an extend to which both are true statements, they can become excuses – especially in light of Hebrews 10:25. We don’t get it right all the time, but it’s important to work together so we can learn to do better. Recently, I had a rough year and a half but am glad to be back to fellowshipping with other believers and working side-by-side with them.